Monday, 6 August 2012

I'm incredibly sorry to all of you readers that recent updates have been few and far between but I assure you, when the next season comes around, I will do all my normal features (live match coverage and analysis, weekend reviews, Top 10's etc) plus I will do write about all the especially interesting football news and also do features on certain Premier League clubs and how they are failing or suceeding and how the need to change / maintain their success.

Thursday, 26 July 2012

Hello and welcome to another blog update. This time, as you can probably guess from the title, I am writing up my predictions for the up and coming Premier League season. Please feel free to submit your predictions in the comments section.

Overall Champions : Chelsea FC

Campiones! : Chelsea will reclaim the Premier League title after two years.

After the Champions League victory last season, Chelsea owner and sugar daddy Roman Abromavich has spent and spent and may keep on spending. With Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar already signed on and Hulk probably on the way then I think they will have the most devastating midfield in the division, even more so than Manchester City's last year. It all depends on two things however, Torres form in front of goal and Di Matteo's leadership, but that does seem unlikely with the team as it is.

2nd and 3rd Place : Manchester United and Manchester City

Coming up trumps : United will not win the league but will finish above City.

Despite last season City came out on top of United last season, I think that United will edge them this time around. Whilst not on the same scale as Chelsea, United have made some shrewd transfers especially Shinji Kagawa who at £12 million looks to be a bargain. City will finish third because as of yet they have bought no one whereas United have got two players already and look to buy one more in Lucas Moura.

4th Place : Arsenal

Skin of the teeth : Arsenal will edge the Champions League spot.

Yes despite Tottenham's new transfer boom I think Arsenal will definitely get 4th place. The two international strikers Podolski and Giroud show Wenger's initiative and the soon to be confirmed transfer of Sani Carlorza will be huge for fans. The man is a huge asset and playing for Spain in this day and age is certainly a big deal.

5th, 6th and 7th Place : Spurs, Everton, Liverpool

So close : Spurs will once again just miss out on Champions league football.

Tottenham will get nailed on Euro football (again) but only because of Modric's departure as he is the shning beacon that makes the team click, in my opinion. Everton will finish above Liverpool again because of Brendan Rodgers' 'transitional stages' for Liverpool, whilst also playing some neat stuff (if they can keep their star players, that is)

18th, 19th and 20th Place : Stoke, Norwich, West Ham.

Going down : Stoke will be sussed out this season and go down.

Stoke have been treading a fine line for years with their one dimensional play and I think teams will suss that out and send them down to the Championship. Norwich, I'm sad to say will suffer from second season syndrome and West Ham will go straight back down, because they are distinctly average.

Top Goalscorer : Sergio Aguero

On fire : Sergio Aguero will be scoring for fun next year.

Sergio Aguero is surely nailed on for this. After his crucial goal sealed the title for Manchester City he will go from strength to strength. He has the ability to create goals from nothing and has a fantastic team working all around him.

Season surprise : Wigan

It could happen : Wigan to be my surprise of the season.

At the end of last season, Wigan were almost unbeatable, beating Manchester United and dominating that game plus they absolutely thrashed Newcastle 4-0. I believe this season they will burst into the top half of the table and have their manager swiftly taken from them by a top team.

First manager casualty : Sam Allardyce

He's a goner : Sam Allardyce to be the first manager out.

After a dodgy Championship promotion, Sam's brand of '(in many people's eyes) non-football' will see him out on his arse. His team will struggle to get points and even after unloading him, will still go straight back down to the Championship on behalf of them being below par.

Biggest transfer : Robin van Persie to Manchester United

BIG DEAL : United buying Van Persie will be the biggest transfer this season.

It will be a drawn out saga but Robin Van Persie will leave Arsenal this season and find homage in the arms of Sir Alex Ferguson. He will not be the best goalscorer but he will surely be vital in the fight for the title.

Who they need : A decent holding midfielder as Alex Song is slightly too adventurous as a defensive midfielder. Someone such as Yann M'Vila of Rennes or Lars Bender of Borussia Dortmund would perfectly fit this role. The leaving Van Persie need not be replaced as Wenger has found two sterling players to replace him.

Who they need : As they only really have one real consistent striker in Darren Bent, you would feel they will need an upgrade on the released Heskey. Grant Holt would be a perfect fit, reunited with his old manager, Paul Lambert.

Who they need : Chelsea require someone with the same physique and ability of the man tank Didier Drogba, one man who springs to mind is Fernando Llorente, who could compliment Fernando Torres as they are both Spaniards. Another man Chelsea may need is Hulk of Porto, who would make that front 4 of Hazard, Torres, Mata and himself something rather special.

Who they need : After the boost he gave them last season, David Moyes will be looking to secure the signature of Steven Pienaar but they also need to keep their key players (Felliani, Baines, Jelavic) if they want to keep competing in the top 6.

Who they need : They will need another versatile striker as Clint Dempsey looks set to leave, also a replacement for Danny Murphy wouldn't go amiss. Fulham could replace him with the out of favor Tom Huddleston of Tottenham.

Liverpool :

Ins :

Outs : Fabio Aurelio (free, Gremio), Dirk Kuyt (£880,000, Fenerbahce)

Who they need : Liverpool's new manager will look for players who already understand his passing philosophy, so you may here mentions of Joe Allen or other Swansea players. Also because of Suarez not telling of his future and Andy Carroll still misfiring next season, Demba Ba and his £7 million buy out clause may sell him straight into Liverpool's arms.

Manchester City :

Ins :

Outs : Owen Hargeaves (released) Wayne Bridge (loan, Brighton)

Who they need : Despite last season's solid defensive displays, Mancini could look for a new central defender, on of either Martin Skrtel or Fabrico Coloccini. Also, as news of Van Persie's declined contract spreads throughout the country (partly thanks to a spectacular twitter breakdown courtesy of Piers Morgan), that could sway Roberto Mancini to look in his direction.

Who they need : If the rumors are true, then Evra hasn't long left in a United shirt, and as the best replacement, Jordi Alba, has gone to Barcelona, United are most likely to pick up Everton's Leighton Baines, also as Scholes has only one more season, Fergie will have to find a fitting replacement and Yohann Cabaye is probably the most affordable of the midfield maestros.

Who they need : They will need a back up striker as with Leon Best going and Demba Ba able to go for just £7 million. One replacement that has been shouted from the rooftops is Luuk de Jong of FC Twente who could be a shrewd buy. Another man linked with the Geordie club is French and Lille full back Mattieu Debuchy, who showed us all his quality in the Euros.

Who they need : They could do with some new additions so as to not suffer from the dreaded second season syndrome. Steven Davis, released from Rangers would be a smart buy, linking up with his old team mate Whittaker once again. Robert Snodgrass has also been mentioned for Norwich.

Who they need : QPR have become the Sunderland of last year, buying everyone cheap and available on sight. The two things they may need now are another striker (amazingly) and a new center back, two names in the mix are Jermain Defoe and Chris Samba.

Reading got promoted to the Premier League at the top of the Championship, and the quality of their team shows that, however they may need to buy top quality players to strengthen some areas of the pitch, the right back, an attacking central midfielder and a striker. If it were me I would buy contract rebel Danny Simpson, Dimitris Salpingidis (the one stand out Greek player at the Euros) and top scorer last season Jordan Rhodes of Huddersfield.

Who they need : Seeing as normally Tony Pulis would buy wingers and strikers, i would hazard a guess this window he'll buy wingers and strikers. Don't be surprised if you see the two Wolves boys Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis strutting their stuff next year in red and white stripes.

Who they need : Seeing as Asamoah Gyan has left for Arabia, and Stefan Seseggnon possibly soon to leave Sunderland too, you would feel they need a midfielder come striker who can make something out of nothing. Step forward Clint Dempsey. Also, a winger could be thrown into Martin O'Neill's plan, so see Adam Johnson of Man City or Aidan McGeady of Spartak Moscow.

Swansea

Ins:

Outs: Ferrie Bodde (released).

Who they need : Seeing as the bottom fell out from underneath their move for Gylfi Sigurdsson, you'd feel that they need to attain someone similar to him whilst also keepeing all their stars in order to hit the top 10. One player who showed us his ability was Krome Dehli of Denmark, who the Swans new boss is 'desperate' to get hold of. Also, if one of their wingers leaves, a replacement could come in the form of Giovanni Dos Santos.Tottenham

Who they need : Seeing as Jan Vertonghen is about to be unveiled as Tottenham's second signing, they need no one, unless star player Modric leaves, in which case AVB could go on a spending spree to replace him. See Joao Moutinho or Alan Dzagoev as possible replacements if he does go. A striker is also necessary, and could come in the form of Loic Remy or Adebayor.

Who they need : A big goal scorer as Carlton Cole's premier league record is poor, Grant Holt of Norwich would do but he has just signed a new deal with them. Also, despite Big Sam's normal boring football, you could see a tricky winger such as Michael Kightly or Kieran Richardson joining the Hammers.

A tricky player to replace both Hugo Rodallega and Victor Moses when he leaves, unfortunately with Wigan's budget, you doubt this could come off. However, one who could be bought is Tomas Hiztlspeger with a traction engine of a left foot, to replace Mohammed Diame.